Coffee maker

ABSTRACT

A coffee maker has a housing having a upstanding tower, a carafe support platform extending horizontally forward from the lower end of the tower, and a fixed, tubular filter basket support extending horizontally forward from the upper end of the housing above the platform. A horizontal filter basket cover, including a water spreader, is disposed above the filter basket support and carried by the housing for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. A cover pivotal about a horizontal axis is provided over a water reservoir defined by the housing. A valve mechanism is provided that operates upon pivoting of the filter basket cover to selectively permit heated water to be supplied to the water spreader, thereby preventing burns from heated water when the water spreader is not located above the filter basket support. The coffee maker also includes an electronic controller having a control pad on the front surface of the housing platform. A pivotal cover is provided to shield the control pad from spilled coffee. To permit the filter basket to be easily removed from the filter basket support, the filter basket is provided with a pivotal bail.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser.No. 60/023,004, filed Aug. 2, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to automatic drip coffee makers and, although notso limited, to automatic drip coffee makers for household counter topuse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typical automatic drip coffee makers include a removable filter basketin which is deposited a paper or other filter that holds ground coffee.The filter basket is removable from the coffee maker housing to permitthe filter to be easily deposited in or removed from the filter basketand to permit the coffee grounds to be easily placed in the filter.

The filter basket has commonly been supported by the coffee makerhousing in one of two ways. In some designs, the filter basket has aflange around its circular outer margin which is supported on ahorizontal, semicircular support rail on the housing, in which case thefilter basket is removed from the housing by sliding it horizontallyalong the rail, typically by a handle extending from the filter basket.In other designs, the filter basket is pivotally mounted relative to thehousing for movement about a vertical axis, whereby the filter basketcan swing out from beneath a fixed top cover and can then be removedfrom the housing, if desired. The top cover typically includes a waterspreader that receives heated water and distributes the water at leastsomewhat evenly over the coffee grounds in the filter basket.

It has been found that the use of a pivotal filter basket has severaldisadvantages. For example, the sections of the coffee maker housingsupporting the pivotal filter basket are typically thin-walled inconstruction, which permits the filter basket to sag or droop whenpivoted to an open position. In addition, removal and replacement of thepivotal filter basket for cleaning or removal of spent coffee groundsmay be tedious and time consuming.

Some coffee makers have been constructed with a fixed filter basket or afixed filter basket support, which overcomes the weak, saggingappearance commonly found in coffee makers having pivotal filterbaskets. In such coffee makers, the filter basket is typically removedfrom the fixed support along a vertical axis. Because the filter basketis typical located beneath a top cover, the coffee makers were providedwith a pivotal top cover. In addition, such coffee makers also typicallyinclude a valve mechanism that prevents heated water from being sprayedfrom the water spreader in the top cover when the top is open, whichcould lead to burns or other serious injury.

In coffee makers having such pivotal top covers, the to cover is pivotedabout a horizontal axis. Such a construction requires the coffee makerto be located on a counter top with sufficient head room above thecoffee maker to permit the top cover to be fully opened. This is adisadvantage in situations in which the space above the counter islimited, as is common in many homes, apartments, and condominiums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A coffee maker in accordance with this invention comprises a housingdefining a water reservoir and a filter basket support carried by thehousing in fixed relation thereto. A filter basket is removablysupported in the filter basket support, and a filter basket cover iscarried by the housing and pivotally movable relative thereto about avertical axis. The filter basket cover may be pivoted between a closedposition covering the filter basket and an open position providingaccess to the filter basket for removal thereof from the filter basketsupport. A dust cover, which is substantially coplanar with the filterbasket cover, covers the water reservoir fill port. The fill port dustcover is pivotal about a horizontal axis to enable one to pour waterinto the reservoir. It is relatively narrow so that, when pivoted to itsopen position, it adds little to the overall height of the coffee maker.

The filter basket cover has one or more hot water exit apertures thatreceive heated water from a hot water delivery tube connected to anautomatic drip heater assembly in the housing which communicates withthe water reservoir. The heated water passes through the exit aperturesin the filter basket cover and onto coffee grounds in the filter basket,thereby producing brewed coffee.

Further in accordance with this invention, the coffee maker is providedwith a valve assembly intermediate the hot water delivery tube and thefilter basket. The valve assembly prevents heated water from beingdelivered through the hot water exit apertures in the filter basketcover when the filter basket cover is in the open position. The valveassembly comprises a valve body extending along a vertical axis andhaving an inlet connected to the hot water delivery tube, anaxially-extending, water supply port communicating with the inlet, and awater return port opening to the water reservoir. A valve closure memberis disposed within the valve body and is rotatable about a verticalaxis. The valve closure member has an axially-extending water deliveryport and defines a bypass passageway. The valve closure member isrotatable between a first position wherein the water delivery passagewayis aligned with and overlies the water supply port and a second positionwherein the water delivery port is not aligned with the water supplyport and the bypass passageway overlies the water return port. As aresult, heated water from the hot water delivery tube passing throughthe water supply port when the valve closure member is in the secondposition is transferred through the bypass passageway and back into thewater reservoir through the water return port.

A coffee maker in accordance with this invention generally includes acarafe supporting platform forming part of the housing and may includean electronic controller including a timer capable of initiating abrewing cycle at a preset time The platform has a front surface on whichmanually-operable control buttons for the electronic controller aremounted. A pivotal dust cover is mounted on the platform and movable toa closed position covering the surface. Preferably, the electroniccontroller includes a digital clock display, in which case the dustcover has a window that is aligned with the clock display when the dustcover is in its closed position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompany drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coffee maker in accordance with thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the coffee maker of FIG. 1 with partscut away and parts in cross section.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the coffee maker of FIGS. 1and 2 but not showing a carafe or water reservoir dust cover shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the coffee maker of FIG. 1 with itsbottom cover removed.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a one-piece, combined fill port and filterbasket support member for a coffee maker in accordance with thisinvention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of FIG. 5 within thebroken line circle 6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view showing the portion of the fill port andfilter basket support illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a filter basket cover in accordance withthis invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of FIG. 8 within thebroken line circle 9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view showing the portion of the filter basketcover illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is top plan view showing the filter basket cover of FIG. 8assembled onto the combined fill port and filter basket support of FIG.5. The filter basket cover is in its closed position in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is top plan view similar FIG. 11 but showing the filter basketcover pivoted partially towards its fully open position.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIG. 12 but showingthe filter basket cover pivoted further towards its fully open position.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIG. 13 but showingthe filter basket cover pivoted to its fully open position.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 15--15 of FIG.11.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 16--16 of FIG.11.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 17--17 of FIG.14.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 18--18 of FIG.14.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are exploded, partially fragmentary, perspective viewsof the preferred embodiment of a valve mechanism in accordance with thisinvention. The valve mechanism of FIGS. 19 and 20 is shown in section inFIGS. 15 through 18.

FIG. 21 is an exploded, partially fragmentary perspective similar toFIG. 19 but showing a second embodiment of a valve mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a coffee maker in accordance with thisinvention, generally designated 20, comprises a housing 22 formed froman upper housing section 24 and a lower housing section 26. The lowerhousing section 26 includes a platform 28 having a warmer plate 30 whichsupports a carafe 31. The upper housing 24 defines a water reservoir 32and supports a one-piece fill port and filter basket support member,generally designated 34.

The housing sections 24 and 26 are formed from a suitable thermoplasticmaterial, such as polypropylene, and are secured together to form thehousing 22. The lower housing section 26 has an upstanding, generallycrescent-shaped tower section 26A.

Similarly, the upper housing section 24 has a depending, generallycrescent-shaped tower section 24A. When the housing sections 24 and 26are secured together to form the housing 22, a mating portion of theupper housing section 24 is received with in the lower housing section26 so that the junction between the upper housing section 24 and thelower housing section 26 is smooth, thus giving the housing 22 a unitaryappearance.

With reference also to FIG. 3, the tower section 24A of the upperhousing 24 has an imperforate floor 38 that cooperates with the wall 40of the upper housing section 24 to define the water reservoir 32. Fourintegral cylindrical shafts (not shown) extend downwardly from the floor38 and are secured by screws 42 to corresponding tabs 44 projectinghorizontally inward from the wall 46 of the lower housing section 26. Asa result, the upper housing section 24 is secured atop the lower housingsection 26. Of course, the housing sections 24 and 26 may be securedtogether in any other suitable manner.

The platform 28 of the lower housing section 26 extends perpendicularlyforward from the tower section 26A of the lower housing section 26. Theplatform 28 supports a conventional carafe supporting and warmer plate30 that is heated by a conventional automatic drip heater assembly 58,as well known. The warmer plate 30 has a non-stick coating, such asTeflon. In operation, water in the reservoir 32 is heated by theautomatic drip heater assembly 58 from which it travels up a hot waterdelivery tube 60 and over a water spreader 62, as will be describedbelow in further detail. The heated water falls through a hot water exitaperture 64 in the water spreader 62 and onto coffee grounds locatedwithin a paper or other filter (not shown) deposited in a filter basket66, thereby producing brewed coffee. In this respect, it will beunderstood that more than one hot water exit aperture 64 may be employedin the water spreader 62. The brewed coffee flows from the filter basket66 into the carafe 31.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the coffee maker 20 is providedwith an electronic controller, generally designated 74, for operatingthe coffee maker 20. The controller 74 includes electronic circuitry forswitching the coffee maker 20 on and off and a clock/timer forinitiating a brewing cycle at a predetermined time. The controller 74also includes a display and control pad 75 having a digital clockdisplay 76 and several control buttons 80, which buttons 80 can bemanually depressed to activate the electronic controller to switch thecoffee maker 20 on and off and to set the clock/timer. The display andcontrol pad 75 extends through an opening (not shown) in the frontsurface 81 of the platform 28 and lies flush therewith.

A suitable electronic controller 74 is commercially-available fromWorldtronics International, Inc., Oglesby, Ill., and includes anautomatic timer circuit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,802, whichtimer circuit permits a brewing cycle to be automatically initiated onceat a preset time. Thus, the automatic brew cycle is initiated on only asingle day, rather than being repeated each day at the preset time.Otherwise, the electronic controller 74 may be entirely conventional andthe details thereof are not important to the understanding of thisinvention.

To shield the clock display 76 and the control buttons 80 from spilledcoffee and other debris, a clock dust cover 82 is provided to cover thefront surface 77 of the platform 28, thereby covering the display andcontrol pad 75. The cover 82 has mutually-confronting pins (not shown)at each end thereof that are received within notches or apertures 86 inopposite sides of the platform 28. The cover 82 is pivotal about thepins 84 between a closed position covering the surface 74, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, and an open position providing access to the controlbuttons 80, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. An upstanding tab 88 isprovided near the front edge of the platform 28 and cooperates with acorresponding recess 90 in the cover 82 to secure the cover 82 in itsclosed position. A separate finger-engageable tab 91 projects upwardlyfrom the cover 82 to permit the cover 82 to be moved from the closedposition to the open position. To permit viewing of the clock display 76when the cover 82 is in the closed position, the cover 82 includes atransparent window 92, preferably comprising a transparentpolycarbonate, that is aligned with the clock display 76 when the cover82 is closed. Alternatively, the entire cover 82 could be formed from atransparent material.

With reference also to FIG. 3, the upper housing section 24 includes thecrescent-shaped tower section 24A, which forms the reservoir 32, and atubular filter basket section 24B which projects forwardly from thetower section 24A above the platform 28. The one-piece fill port andfilter basket support 34 mentioned above, which is best illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 5, comprises a unitary rim 94 which is molded in a suitablethermoplastic material, such as polypropylene, to conform to theperimeter of the top of the upper housing 24. The rear portion of therim 94, which forms a fill port 96, is generally crescent-shaped. Thefront portion of the rim 94 forms a generally circular, tubular filterbasket support 98.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the rim 94 is formed with ahorizontally-extending ledge or flange 100 atop a vertically-extendingwall 102. The flange 100 is supported by the upper surface of the wall40 of the upper housing section 24. The wall 102 of the rim 94 conformsto the wall 40 of the upper housing section 24 and has severaloutwardly-projecting tabs 104 that cooperate with corresponding notchesor recesses 106 in the wall 40 of the upper housing section 24 to securethe rim 94 to the upper housing section 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water reservoir or fill port dust cover 108is provided above the fill port 96 and is pivotally connected to therear of the rim 94 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. Thedust cover 108 is generally crescent-shaped and conforms to the shape ofthe fill port 96. As common, the dust cover 108 is pivoted to an openposition, shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, to permit water to be pouredinto the water reservoir 32. The dust cover 108 is relatively narrow sothat, when opened, it does not add significantly to the overall heightof the coffee maker 20.

The tubular filter basket support 98 is constructed to support thefilter basket 66 in a single angular orientation. The filter basket 66has a generally cylindrical upper portion 114, a generally conicalcenter portion 116 and generally cylindrical lower portion 118. However,the interior of the filter basket 66 has a general conical configurationfrom top to bottom. As common in coffee makers, the filter basket 66carries a spring-biased pause/serve mechanism 120 (FIG. 2) that permitsbrewed coffee in the filter basket 66 to flow through a brewed coffeeoutlet 122 (FIG. 2) in the bottom thereof only when the filter basket 66is properly supported in the filter basket support 98 and a carafe 31 isproperly position beneath the brewed coffee outlet 122.

The tubular filter basket support 98 has an inner wall 124 sized andshaped to conform to the upper portion 114 and center portion 116 of thefilter basket 66. In this respect, the inner wall 124 has an uppercylindrical portion 126 and a conical portion 128. The rear of the innerwall 124 is formed with a stair-step or shelf configuration, generallydesignated 130, which conforms to a corresponding stair-stepconfiguration, generally designated 132, on the rear of the upper marginof the filter basket 66. In addition, a diametrically-opposed pair ofupwardly-opening vertical slots 134 is also formed in the wall 124 ofthe filter basket support 98. The slots 134 receive a corresponding pairof diametrically-opposed tabs 136, only one of which is shown,projecting radially-outwardly from the outer surface of the filterbasket 66.

The stair step configurations 130 and 132 on the filter basket support98 and the filter basket 66, respectively, cooperate with each other inconjunction with the slots 134 and tabs 136 to permit the filter basket66 to be supported in the filter basket support 98 in only one angularorientation. This ensures that the filter basket 66 will be properlyseated and also ensures that the pause/serve mechanism 120 will beproperly located for engagement by a carafe 31.

With reference to FIG. 5, the filter basket support 98 hashorizontally-extending walls 137 at its lower end that define an opening138 through which the filter basket 66 extends. The walls 137 areprovided so that condensation that forms on or flows down the wall 124of the filter basket support 98 will not drip onto the housing 22.Instead, the condensation flows over the walls 137 and drips down theouter surface of the filter basket 66. The lower portion 118 of thefilter basket 66 is so sized that the condensation drips into the carafe31 or onto the lid of the carafe 31. Also, a notch 137A is formed in therearmost wall 137 and receives a guide (not shown) projecting outwardlyfrom the rear of the filter basket 66 to help properly orient the filterbasket 66 in the filter basket support.

With reference again to FIG. 3, the filter basket 66 is provided with apivotal bail 139 which may be grasped to pull the filter basket 66vertically upwardly from the filter basket support 98. The outer wall ofthe filter basket 66 is provided with a recessed portion along the rearthereof that receives the bail 139 when it is not in use. To permit thebail 139 to be lifted from its recessed position, the filter basket 66is also provided with a relief 140 that is received in acorrespondingly-shaped depression 142 in the filter basket support 98.The relief 140 permits the bail 139 to be lifted, by a finger forexample, from its recessed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 8, the coffee maker 20 in accordance withthis invention also includes a pivotal or swivel filter basket coverassembly, generally designated 144, which has a top surface which issubstantially coplanar with the top surface of the fill port dust cover108. The filter basket cover assembly 144 is pivotally mounted to thefilter basket support 98, as will be described below in detail, and ispivotally movable about a vertical axis between a first or closedposition covering the filter basket 66 (when the filter basket 66 is inplace) and second or open position providing access to the filter basket66 for removal. Of course, if the filter basket 66 is not in place inthe filter basket support 98, the filter basket 66 can be placed in thefilter basket support 98 when the filter basket cover assembly 144 is inthe second or open position.

The filter basket cover assembly 144 comprises a one-piece cover plate146, which includes the water spreader 62 mentioned briefly above, andan upper cover member 147 snap fit to the top of the cover plate 146.The water spreader 62 comprises a channel 148 formed in the plate 146which receives heated water from the hot water delivery tube 60, as willbe described below. Water in the channel 148 passes through the exitaperture 64 provided in the bottom of the channel 148 and into thefilter basket 66, as described above. A separate channel cover 150 isprovided over the water spreader channel 148 beneath the upper covermember 147. An arcuate guide channel 151 is formed in the cover plate146 and travels over a guide tab 151A, which tab 151A projects from therim 94, as the cover plate 94 is pivoted between its open and closedpositions. A locking tab 152 having a raised portion 152A is receivedwithin an open notch 153 in an upstanding wall 153A on the fill port 96to retain the cover plate 146 in its closed position.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5 through 20, a valve mechanism, generallydesignated 154, pivotally connects the filter basket cover assembly 144to the filter basket support 98 and controls the flow of heated waterfrom the hot water delivery tube 60 to the water spreader 62. Asexplained above, the valve mechanism 154 is provided to prevent heatedwater from flowing through the water spreader when the cover assembly144 is pivoted to its open position to provide access to the filterbasket support 98 for placement or removal of the filter basket. Suchflow of heated water could not only create an undesired mess on thecounter top below but could also cause serious injury, such as burns, toa person inadvertently placing a hand or arm beneath the water spreader62.

The valve mechanism 154 comprises a generally tubular, fixed lower valveportion, generally designated 156, which may be termed the valve bodyand is integrally molded with the rim 94. The valve mechanism 154 alsoinclude a generally cylindrical, rotatable upper valve portion,generally designated 158, which may be termed the valve closure memberand is integrally molded with the with the filter basket cover plate146. The valve body 156 and the valve closure member 158 are preferablymolded from a polypropylene thermoplastic, which is the preferredmaterial for the rim 94 and the cover plate 146.

The valve body 156 has a tubular water supply inlet 160 at the lower endthereof that receives the upper end of the hot water supply tube 60.Heated water can flow upwardly into the water supply inlet 160 andthrough a pair of opposed openings or windows 162 in the inner wall ofthe water supply inlet 160. The windows 162 open to a corresponding pairof axially-extending, circumferential water supply openings or ports 164which open upwardly to a cylindrical chamber 166 in the valve body 156.

The valve closure member 158 fits snugly within the chamber 166 in thevalve body 156 and can be rotated therein about its vertical centeraxis. The valve closure member 158 includes a pair of axially-extendingwater delivery openings or ports 168 that are substantially the samesize and shape as the water supply ports 164 in the valve body 156. Thewater delivery ports 168 open upwardly to the channel 148 of the waterspreader 62. When the cover plate 146 is in its closed position over thefilter basket support 98, as shown in FIG. 11, the valve closure member158 is oriented so that the water delivery passageways 168 are alignedwith and overlie the water supply passageways 164 in the valve body 156.Thus, when the cover plate 146 is in its closed position, water from thehot water delivery tube 60 can flow through the windows 162, through thealigned water supply ports 164 and water delivery ports 168, and intothe channel 148 of the water spreader 62. As evident, the heated waterwill then fall through the exit aperture 64 and onto coffee grounds inthe filter basket 66, as described above.

To prevent heated water from passing through the exit aperture 64 whenthe cover plate 146 is not above the filter basket support 98, the valvemechanism 154 is constructed so that heated water from the hot waterdelivery tube 60 will be returned to the water reservoir 32, when thecover plate 146 is moved toward its opened position. To this end, thevalve body 156 also includes a pair of axially-extending,circumferential water return openings or ports 170 that, for reasonswhich will become apparent, are longer in arc length than the watersupply ports 164. As best shown in FIG. 5, the water return ports 170and the water supply ports 164 are defined and separated by four wallsor vanes 172.

The valve closure member 158 is formed with an opposed pair of reliefs174 that open upwardly to a corresponding pair of water return pockets176, which reliefs 174 and pockets 176 are substantially the same sizeand shape as the water return ports 170. As now apparent, the reliefs174 and the water return pockets 176 are aligned with and overlie thecorresponding water return ports 170 in the valve body 156 when thefilter basket cover plate 146 is closed. Thus, water being supplied tothe water spreader 62 cannot pass into the return ports 170 when thecover plate 146 is closed.

As the cover plate 146 is pivoted from its closed position and the valveclosure member 158 rotates counterclockwise, as viewed from above, eachwater delivery port 168 becomes partially aligned with both itscorresponding water supply port 164 and the neighboring (in thecounterclockwise direction) water return port 170. At the same time,each relief 174 and water return pocket 176 also becomes partiallyaligned with both its corresponding water return port 170 and theneighboring (in the counterclockwise direction) water supply port 164.

With the cover plate 146 partially opened, as shown in FIG. 12, waterthat passes from a supply port 164 to a water delivery port 168 in thevalve closure member will most likely follow the path of leastresistance, which is downward through the neighboring water return port170 partially aligned with the water delivery port 168. Of course, thewater may have sufficient momentum so as to travel upwardly to the waterspreader 62. This does not present a hazard because the exit aperture 64of the water spreader 62 is still above the filter basket support 98.

Heated water will also pass from each water supply port 164 into thecorresponding relief 174 and water return pocket 176. This water isdirected above the neighboring water return port and falls, due togravity, back into the water reservoir 32. Thus, little, if any, heatedwater is supplied to the water spreader 62 once the cover plate 146 ismoved from its closed position.

With reference to FIG. 13, as the cover plate 146 is pivoted furthertoward its fully open position so that the exit aperture 64 of the waterspreader 62 is located just above the outer margin of the filter basketsupport 98, the valve closure member 158 is oriented so that the waterdelivery ports 168 are completely out of alignment with theircorresponding water supply ports 164 in the valve body 156 andcompletely overlie the neighboring water return ports 170. Water fromthe water supply ports 164 is blocked from passing into the waterdelivery ports 168 and into the water spreader 62. Instead, the waterflows into the reliefs 174 and water return pockets 176 which are eachaligned with and overlie both a water supply port 164 and itsneighboring (in the clockwise direction) return port 170. As apparent,the water from the water supply ports 164 is directed above the waterreturn ports 170 and falls, dues to gravity, back into the waterreservoir 32.

FIG. 14 illustrates the filter basket cover plate 146 pivoted to itsfully open position in which a depending guide tab 177 engages aconfronting stop 178 projecting into a guide slot 179 in the filterbasket support 94. As the cover plate 146 is pivoted from the partiallyopen position of FIG. 13 to the fully open position of FIG. 14, waterfrom the hot water delivery tube 60 continues to be recycled into thewater reservoir 32 by the valve mechanism 154. As the valve closuremember 158 rotates with the cover plate 146, each relief 174 and waterreturn pocket 176 in the valve closure member 158 moves so that itbecomes aligned with and overlies both a water supply port 164 and itsneighboring (in the counterclockwise direction) water return port 170.Thus, water from the water supply ports 164 continues to be blocked frompassing into the water delivery ports 168 in the valve closure member158 and falls through the return ports 170 into the water reservoir 32.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the valve mechanism 154 maybe formed with only a single water supply port 164, water delivery port168, water return port 170, and water return pocket 176. However, two ofeach component or structure is preferred.

With reference to FIGS. 15 through 20, a silicone rubber O-ring 180 ispreferably provided around the valve closure member 158 against thelower surface of the cover plate 146. The O-ring 180 is supported on acircular ledge 182 at the upper end of the chamber 166 and preventswater that flows into the reliefs 174 and the water return pockets 176from passing out of the chamber 166 between the wall 166A thereof andthe valve closure member 158. Referring also to FIG. 10, a gasket 184 isinsert molded integrally to the bottom of the valve closure member 158.The gasket 184 is preferably formed from a thermoplastic elastomermaterial, such as material commonly referred to as saniprene, andprovides a water-tight seal around the bottom openings of the waterdelivery ports 168, as well as around a central passageway 186, thepurpose of which will be described below.

The cover plate 146 and valve closure member 158 are secured to thefilter basket support 98 and the valve body 156 by a stainless steelfastening pin 188 that extends through the central passageway 186 in thevalve closure member 158 and through an aligned passageway 190 in thevalve body 156. The pin 188 has a conical lower end 192 that forms anupwardly facing shoulder 194 which is slightly larger in diameter thatthe shaft 196 of the pin 188. The shoulder 194 prevents the pin 188 frombeing removed upwardly from the passageways 186 and 190 once insertedtherein. A coil spring 198 is disposed around the shaft 196 of the pin188 and compressed between the head 200 thereof and an upwardly-facingsurface 202 on the valve closure member 156. As a result, the valveclosure member 158 and the valve body 156 are held together tightly anda proper seal by the gasket 184 is ensured.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the valve closure member 158and the valve body 156 are also held together by the entrapment of theguide tab 177 within the guide slot 179, even when the pin 188 isremoved. The stop 178 projecting into the guide slot 179 may bemomentarily moved to an out-of-the-way position to permit the tab 177 topass into a widened portion of the guide slot 179, thereby permittingremoval of the tab 177 from the guide slot 179.

FIG. 21 illustrates a second embodiment of a valve mechanism, generallydesignated 254. The valve mechanism 254 operates in substantially thesame manner as the preferred valve mechanism 154, but has a slightlydifferent construction. For example, the valve closure member 258 andthe valve body 256 of the valve mechanism 254 are held together by aplastic, push-in fastener pin 288 having a bifurcated conical lower end292 and no bias spring is used. Also, the gasket 284 of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 21 is not integrally molded with the valve closuremember 258. Rather, it is a separate part. In addition, the valveclosure member 254 does not include the reliefs 174 present on thepreferred valve closure member 158.

Although the presently preferred embodiments of this invention have beendescribed, it will be understood that within the purview of theinvention various changes may be made within the scope of the followingclaims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:
 1. A coffee maker,comprising:a housing defining a water reservoir; a filter basket supportcarried by said housing in fixed relation thereto; a filter baskethaving an upper opening and removably supported in said filter basketsupport; a filter basket cover carried by said housing sized and shapedto completely cover said opening and pivotally movable relative to saidhousing about a vertical axis, said filter basket cover being pivotalabout said vertical axis between a closed position covering said filterbasket opening and an open position providing access through saidopening to said filter basket for removal thereof from said filterbasket support, said filter basket cover having a hot water exitaperture; an automatic drip heater assembly in said housingcommunicating with said reservoir; and a hot water delivery tubedelivering heated water from said heater assembly to said filter basketthrough said hot water exit aperture in said filter basket cover.
 2. Thecoffee maker of claim 1 further comprising a valve assembly intermediatesaid hot water delivery tube and said filter basket, said valve assemblypreventing heated water from being delivered through said hot water exitaperture when said filter basket cover is in said open position.
 3. Thecoffee maker of claim 2 wherein said filter basket cover is pivotallymounted on said filter basket support.
 4. The coffee maker of claim 3wherein said valve assembly comprises a fixed valve body and a rotatablevalve closure member disposed within said valve body.
 5. The coffeemaker of claim 4 wherein said valve body is integral with said filterbasket support and said valve closure member is integral with saidfilter basket cover.
 6. The coffee maker of claim 1 wherein said housingincludes a platform for supporting a carafe, said platform having afront surface on which controls for said coffee maker are located, andwherein said coffee maker further comprises a control cover pivotallymounted on said platform and movable to a closed position covering saidsurface.
 7. The coffee maker of claim 6 further comprising an electroniccontroller including a timer capable of initiating a brewing cycle at apreset time and manually-operable control buttons located on said frontsurface of said platform.
 8. The coffee maker of claim 7 wherein saidelectronic controller includes a clock display located on the frontsurface of said platform, and wherein said cover has a window whichpermits viewing of said clock display when said control cover is in saidclosed position.
 9. The coffee maker of claim 1 wherein said filterbasket cover includes a horizontally-extending locking tab, and whereinsaid filter basket support includes an upstanding wall having a notchformed therein for receiving said locking tab when said filter basketcover is in said closed position.
 10. A coffee maker, comprising:ahousing defining a water reservoir; a filter basket support carried bysaid housing in fixed relation thereto; a filter basket removablysupported in said filter basket support; a water spreader mounted onsaid filter basket support and pivotal relative thereto about a verticalaxis, said water spreader being pivotal between a first position whereinsaid water spreader is over said filter basket and a second positionproviding access to said filter basket for removal thereof from saidfilter basket support; an automatic drip heater assembly in said housingcommunicating with said reservoir; and a hot water delivery tubedelivering heated water from said heater assembly to said waterspreader.
 11. The coffee maker of claim 10 further comprising a valveassembly intermediate said hot water delivery tube and said waterspreader, said valve assembly permitting heated water to be delivered tosaid water spreader only when said water spreader is in said firstposition.
 12. The coffee maker of claim 11 wherein said valve assemblycomprises a fixed valve body and a rotatable valve closure memberdisposed within said valve body.
 13. The coffee maker of claim 12wherein said valve body is integral with said filter basket support andsaid valve closure member is integral with said water spreader.
 14. Thecoffee maker of claim 10 wherein said water spreader is integral with afilter basket cover which covers said filter basket when said waterspreader is in said first position.
 15. The coffee maker of claim 1wherein said filter basket includes a pivotal bail which may be graspedto remove the filter basket from the filter basket support.
 16. In acoffee maker comprising a housing defining a water reservoir, a filterbasket support carried by said housing, a filter basket having an upperopening and removably supported in said filter basket support, and afilter basket cover sized and shaped to completely cover said openingdisposed above said filter basket, the improvement wherein said filterbasket cover is carried by said housing for pivotal movement about avertical axis.
 17. A coffee maker, comprising:a housing defining afilter basket support and a water reservoir having a fill port; a filterbasket supported in said filter basket support; an automatic drip heaterassembly communicating with said water reservoir; a hot water deliverytube delivering heated water from said heater assembly to said filterbasket; a filter basket cover disposed above said filter basket supportand the filter basket therein, said filter basket cover being pivotalrelative to said housing about a vertical axis to expose said filterbasket support; and a water reservoir cover disposed above said waterreservoir, said water reservoir cover being pivotal relative to saidhousing about a horizontal axis to expose said water reservoir fillport.